PAUL’S PASTORAL CONCERNS FOR THE GALATIANS.

SERIES: GALATIANS-BE FREE.

TEXT: GALATIANS 4:8-20.

In these thirteen verses Paul expresses his pastoral concerns for the Galatians. These pastoral concerns can be expressed in three “R” s, REGRESSION, RELATIONSHIP and REASONS.

Paul was concerned about the Galatians regression back to the slavery of legalism. Paul was concerned about his relationship with the Galatian churches. Paul was concerned about the reasons why the Judaizers wanted the Galatians to follow their false doctrines:-

REGRESSIONS-Gal. 4:8-12.

• “Formerly-You Galatians were slaves” to false gods.

• Before they were saved the Galatians had been slaves to false gods.
• According to Acts 14, the Galatians had worshipped Zeus and Hermes.
• The Olympic Games were performed in honor of Zeus the chief god of the Greeks.
• Today the Olympic torch is still worship of Zeus!!
• But the Galatians had now come to know the True and Living God.
• They had been slaves to false gods, just like us, we were slaves to false gods of Africa.
• Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ they had been set free by the True and Living God.
• To go under the Law of Moses and all the Levitical Laws of Judaism, these Galatians were returning to false gods.
• It was equivalent to a return to “Weak and miserable Principles.”
• Take the example in the testimony of John Newton, author of “Amazing Grace.”
• Newton was an only child and he lost his mother when he was seven years (7).
• At the age of eleven (11) years, he went to sea as a sailor and became involved in the inhuman African slave trade.
• Newton was soon hardened by the evil of slave trade, vulgarity and blasphemy.
• When Newton was twenty three (23) years his ship was caught up in a severe storm. He feared for his own life and he cried out to God for mercy and was marvelously saved.
• Not wanting ever to forget the depth of sin from which he had been rescued by God’s grace, Newton later inscribed the words of Deuteronomy 15:5, “And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.”
• Unlike Newton, the Galatians forgot what they were once like.

• “You are observing special days”-Vs. 10.

• Some preachers use this verse wrongly forbidding celebrating of birthdays and holidays.
• This was not the intent of Paul’s message.
• This verse does not forbid celebrating Christmas and Easter.
• Paul is simply pointing out that such things don’t save anyone from sin.
• The Judaizers had convinced the Galatians to observe the Mosaic calendar.
• They kept special days and months and seasons.

• “I fear-I have wasted my efforts”-Vs. 11.

• • Paul feared that his ministry to the Galatians was a waste of time and energy.
  • Efforts=”Kekopiaka” in Greek=Labored to the point of exhaustion.

• “Be free from the law as I am.”

• After salvation Paul was like a Gentile-“Free from the law.”
• But these Galatians were doing the opposite.
• They had never known the law before salvation.
• Now they had been saved, but going to be under the law from which Paul had been delivered.

RELATIONSHIP-Gal. 4:13-16.

• An angel or an Enemy?

• When Paul first came to Galatia they treated him like an angel.
• But now they are treating him like an enemy.
• Paul is concerned over the change of their relationship.
• The gospel of legalism had become attractive to some. When they left the truth they left the man who brought the truth to them.
• The man who had been their pastor had become their enemy.
• A lot of folks appreciate a pastor only as long as he says what they want to hear.
• When the pastor stops tickling their itching ears, he becomes their enemy.
• Let me tell you about pastoral ministry:-

• When you are young pastor, they say you lack experience.

• When you are grey haired, they say you can’t reach the youth.

• If you have no children, they say you are setting a bad example.

• If you have four children, they say you have too many.

• If you preach from notes, they say you preached canned sermons.

• If you preach extemporaneously, they say you are shallow.

• If you pay attention to the poor, they say you are grandstanding.

• If you don’t pay attention to the poor, they say you are aristocrats.

• If you use too many illustrations, they say you neglect the Bible.

• If you condemn sin, they say you are old fashioned.

• If you don’t condemn sin, they say you are a compromiser.

• If you preach the truth, you offend people.

• If you don’t preach the truth, you are hypocrite.

• If you don’t please everyone, they say you are chasing members.

• If you please everyone, then you are a man pleaser.

That is why so many pastors are burned out, cynical and unemployed.

• An illness-Vs. 13-14.

• When Paul preached to the Galatians first time, he was a sick man, but they accepted him anyway.
• They loved him and received him like an angel, or like Jesus Christ Himself.

• “What has happened to all your joy?”-Vs. 15.

• Many Christians today have lost the joy of salvation.
• The Galatians, when they lost the truth, they lost their joy!!
• They had turned away from the Lord, the gospel and from the preacher who brought the gospel to them.

REASONS-Gal. 4:17-20.

• The Judaizers were zealous to win Galatians over for no good reason.
• The Judaizers wanted to alienate the Galatians from Paul, so that they may be zealous for them.

• Paul’s motives for sharing the gospel with Galatia were pure.

• The Judaizers used flattery, they wanted a personal following.
• Paul wanted a Jesus following people.

• “My dear children”-Vs. 19.

• Paul felt like a mother in child birth pangs.
• He was anxious for their salvation and growth.
• He longed for them, to be transformed into the image of Christ “Morphoo” or metamorphosis to be like Christ-Gal. 2:20.

• “I wish I could be with you now”-Vs. 20.

• Paul was afraid that their growth was being stunted.
• He wanted to be with them.
• He wanted to preach to them again.
• He wanted to love them and convince them of God’s grace.

CONCLUSION

• Are you regressing back to the world of sin?
• How is your relationship with your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ? Are you becoming more and more like Jesus? (Morphoo).
• Is your love for Jesus Christ on the upward trend?-Gal. 2:20.